Shea Gallante Teams With Stratis Morfogen to Open Ciano

After his short tenure under David Bouley, former Cru chef Shea Gallante (one of the city’s most highly regarded though least-hyped Italian toques) is entering into an even unlikelier partnership — with Stratis Morfogen, the owner of Philippe and the very vocal defendant in the trademark-infringement case brought by Mr. Chow. They’re taking over the former Beppe space at 45 East 22nd Street (near Broadway) to open what Diner’s Journal describes as an Italian restaurant with a Tuscan look (though the food won’t be of a particular region). Welcome back from Westchester, chef Gallante.